the man convicted of the lockerbie bombing, still alive, almost two years after he was sent home from scotland with terminal cancer. al-megrahi. we found more of this supporters on the front line with the rebels. nato has not been able to get them to surrender. it has been bombing since march. nato aircraft have made more than 16,000 sorties. they have carried out more than 6000 air strikes. still, the colonel remains. four rebels in eastern libya, moammar gaddafi's fate is cause for argument. some insist he has no future inside his country. >> we understand the libyan people want him to leave the country and power, so this is our stand as of today. >> others suggest that the colonel does not have to go into exile. word that britain and france are prepared to let colonel gaddafi stay inside libya is seen by the supporters of the commonwealth as an admission that nato and the rebels cannot get rid of the libyan leader -- seen by the supporters of colonel gaddafi as an admission. giving up, long before the leader ever does. james reynolds, bbc news, in tripoli. >> you are watching "bbc world new